Spark plug



J. H HYDE SPARK PLUG July 11, 1933.

Filed Feb. 24, 1932 Patented July 11, 1933 JOHN H. HYDE, or yrARoUs Hook, rENnsYLv mra I SPARKPLUG Application filed February 24,1932. Serial No. 594,763.

This invention relates to improvements in spark plugs, and an object thereof is toprovide a novel inexpensive and efficient con; struction whereby atmospheric air may be permitted to enter the hollow interior thereof which is designed to open into a gas engine combustion chamber, for the purpose of supplying air to the engine fuel, and for the purpose of keeping the interior of the plug and the electrodes thereof clean. p

Another object of the inventionis-to, pro-; vide an advantageous means for opening and closing the atmospheric air passage which leads from exterior to the interior of the lug. V

The invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed. 7 In the accompanying drawing, illustrating theinvention, Q

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionof a spark plug embodying my invention. a

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections of Fig.1.

' Referring to the drawing, the body-memher at of the spark plug is provided "with the usual threaded end portion 5 to be screwed engine. I v The body member 4 is provided with a lower or inner bore 6, having an'open end,

7 which communicates with the combustion chamber of the engine to which theplugis applied; and the member 4'is provided with an upper or outer bore 7 co-axial with the inner bore 6 and of larger diameter. A shoulder or packing seat 8 is formed at the junction of the inner and outer bores.

The wall of the outer portion of the outer is almost equal to the diameterof the bore 7 thereof, on lines 22 and 3-3, respectively,

into the frame of an internal combustionand the portion 11 is adapted to be clamped portion of the core 10 extends through the sleeve 9 in spaced relation thereto, and the inner portion of the core 10' extends through the inner bore 6 in spaced relationto the wall thereof. V V

Fitted .to and resting against the seat 8 is a hard metal ring 12, and interposed-between the ring 12 and the expanded portion 11 of the core 10 is a packing ring13 formed of copper or other suitable material which is softer than the hard metal ring 12 to afford a cushion seat for the porcelain forming the the ring 14 is formed of the same or similar material as that forming thering 12; The

rings 12, 13' and 14 and the expanded portion 11 of the core 10 are clamped by and between the sleeve 9 and seat 8 to hold the core 10 firmly in place within'the body'member'.

The body membere is provided with the I outer electrode 15, and extending centrally through the core 10 is'the inner electrode 16 having a free end portion projecting from the corelO adjacent to the electrode 15 for the formation of thespark gap 17 between them. 5 r The central portion of the body member 4 i is expanded and'is hexagonal in shape to rebetweenthe'collar -9 andseat 8; The outer ceive a wrench for turningthe plug, and ex-' portion 18 of the member 4 is a passage 19 tending diagonally through the expanded member .tto the interior thereof and communicates with the space between the wall of the bore 6 and the ortion'of the core 10 which extends throng thesameQ This pas sage 19 is formed by an outer bore 20 and an inner bore 21 of-larger diameter than the outer bore, providing a valveseat 22 atthe junction of the two bores. Within the bore 21 and resting'normally. in contact with the valve seat 22 is a ball valve 23 which is adapted to be raised from the seat 22 by air being sucked through the passage 19. The bore 22 V is opposite to one'side of the ring 12 which forms a stop or abutment for the ball valve 23.

when it is raised or moved inwardly from its seat. Thus the hard metal of the ring 12 serves to'protect the softer. material of the packingring from the impacts of the ball V which extends toa position near the outerend of the passage 19 when the clip is in the operavalve.

The body member 4 below the expanded portion 18 thereof is provided with an annular groove 24, and slidably fitted within this grove24 is a spring clip 25 which em" braces the member 4 and is circumferentially adjustable thereon within the groove 24. Thevclip 25 is provided with a spring arm 26' tive position, illustrated in the drawing.

The s )rin arm 26 has a rotuberance 27 l e v thereon whichjs adaptedto enter the passage 19 and engage the wall of the outer end portion thereof and close the same when the clip is in the operative position. By sliding the clip 25 circumferentially within the groove 24 it may be moved from its operative position to move the arm 26 and its protuberance 27 from the passage 19 to open the lower or outer end thereof. Thus the clip 25 may) be adjusted at will to open or; close the outer end of the passage 19. or v When the sparkplug is applied to a gas engine, the space between the core 10 and the wall of thebore (Swill be in communication with the combustionchamber of the engine; and, it will now be understood that when the plug is applied to an engine and the clip 25 is set in. its inoperative position opening the outer end of the passage 19, the suction cre-J V ated within the combustlon chamber of the engine, at each intake stroke of the piston,

will open the ball Valve 23 and draw atmos-. pheric air into the combustion chamber and" mix it withthe fuel therein, supplementing the air introduced through the carburetor, and that the atmospheric air thus drawn through the passage 19 and between the core 10 and the wall of the boretfi and through the spark gap 17 will tend to keep the interior of the plug cleanand-preventthe fouling thereof. It will also be understood that at each compression stroke of the piston, the ball valve 23 will be forced against itsseat 22' and prevent the escape offuel gas from the combustion chamber through-the passage19.

When atmospheric or other conditions rteizess v vided with erative make it desirable that no atmospheric air shall be admitted to the combustion chamber through the pasage 19, the spring clip 25 maybe adjusted to its operative position, as shown in the drawing, to close the outer end of the passage 19.

' I claim as my invention:

' 5 1-. A hollow spark plugbodymember having a passage therein extending from the exterior to the interior thereof and having an exterior, annular groove, in combination with 2. A hollow sparkv plug body member liaving a passage therein extending from the exterior to the interior thereof and having an QXiellOP, annular groove, in combinationwith a spring clip embracing said member within said groove and circumferentially"adjustable therein and provided with a yieldable arm projectingtherefrom and adapted to engage said member,,said clip being movable to an operative position in which said arm closes theouterend of said passage and to an inoperative-position in which said arm is away from said passage. I r f 3. A hollow-spark plug body member having a-passage therein extending from the exterior to theinterior thereof and having an exterior, annular groove, in combination with aspring clip embracing said member within said groove and circumferentially adjustable q therein and provided with a yieldable arm projecting;therefrom and adapted to engage 'said n1ember, sa1 d clip being movable to an operative position inwhich said arm closes" the outer endiof said passage and to an inop-L posit-ion in which said arm is Eaivay fromsaid passage, and said arm having a protuberance. thereon which enters saidpas-' sage when said'f'clip ismovedlto the-operative position. 1

In testimony whereof I iX my signature.

"JOHN H. HYDE. 

